Goose Lake Fishing in Marshall County, Illinois

• Overview

  Set in Marshall County, Goose Lake is an Illinois water. The water sits 440 feet up. Supplies mean a trip to Lacon, 2 miles off. The nearest city of size is North Peoria, 25 miles away. Near neighbours: Wightman Lake lies 3.1 miles on, Billsbach Lake 3.2 miles off, Barnes Lake lies 3.2 miles on, Whitney Lake 4.2 miles off and Babb Slough lies 6.2 miles on. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Marshall County, recorded fish include green sunfish, largemouth bass and logperch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Goose Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 22°F in January to roughly 75°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid March. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid March in spring and again near late December in autumn. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Goose Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Wightman Lake is 3.1 miles off. Check the position at Goose Lake before loading the car.